Terrestrial Mineral Resource, Cumbria
Oxford Archaeology North, Cumbria County Council, Historic England, Alison Deegan, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5284/1038435. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Historic England, Oxford Archaeology North unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
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Jamie
Quartermaine
Oxford Archaeology North
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2114
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1038435
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
An assessment of the terrestrial mineral resources in Cumbria (excluding the two National Parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty) has been undertaken on behalf of Historic England (Project 6490), in partnership with Cumbria County Council. This was designed to assess the character, significance and range of sites of archaeological significance within areas that may potentially be affected by future aggregate extraction. OA North was commissioned to undertake the project, with work commencing in April 2012.
The principal aim of the project was to identify the heritage resource that may be affected by future aggregate extraction in the county, which would aid planners and curators in making decisions that would have an impact on the heritage of the county. To achieve this several research aims were established:
- To establish the character, scale and geographical distribution of potential future aggregate reserves, assessed in the context of the historic environment, with an emphasis upon existing and historical extraction sites.
- To identify and quantify the archaeological resource within aggregate-rich areas, and produce data that help planners, curators, the archaeological community at large, and the minerals industry, to manage the historic environment within the areas of mineral extraction in the county.
- To define the impact of past and present aggregate extraction across the county.
- To identify the possible impacts of future aggregate extraction upon the historic environment, and to assess the extent and character of the historic environment in these areas.
- To assess the impact of future extraction and provide a mechanism to inform future aggregate-related planning guidance.
- To enable a better understanding of the archaeological resource amongst stakeholders.
- To develop the management of the archaeological landscapes and monuments within areas of potential aggregate extraction.
Detailed objectives were assigned to each research aim. The project was divided into four stages. The first assessed the commercial potential for soft and hard aggregate resources within the county and defined areas with the greatest potential for future extraction. Eleven areas were selected for further study in the second stage, all centred on existing quarries, as it was demonstrated that it was highly unlikely that completely new quarries would gain planning consent. These areas were subject to more intensive investigation, examining the current state of knowledge relating to heritage assets, and establishing the potential for further heritage resources within them. In the third stage of the project, a process of analysis was undertaken to examine the heritage potential within the areas at greatest threat from future extraction. The assessment identified which of the study areas, centred on existing quarries, have the greatest potential for buried archaeological remains and where future quarry expansion may have an impact on a significant heritage resource. The fourth stage comprised the compilation of the report, including a series of recommendations intended to enable the preservation of the heritage resource in these areas.
